Volunteer Opportunities

One of the biggest challenges to serving is knowing what is out there to get involved with. Here are some opportunities to help you get started.

Children Ministry

GPC Kids is the Children's Ministry of Great Plains Church. Every Sunday it takes several volunteers to lovingly care for and teach kids from 18 months through 5th grade. Curriculum is provided but those with the gift of teaching will thrive in this environment as kids eyes are opened to the greatness of God found in the Bible. See more about GPC Kids and then print and fill out a Volunteer Application to get started. Volunteer applications can be turned in at the information table on Sunday morning

Greeting and Hospitality (Sunday Morning)

Hospitality is to be shown to everyone (Rom. 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9, Heb. 13:2). The best way to be hospitable in your home is to be friendly, offer a drink or meal, and have a guest feel at home. Sunday morning should not be much different. Opening the door, brewing coffee or baking muffins, and introducing yourself to someone are simple ways to create a warm atmosphere and hospitable environment to visitors and members alike. Did you know that you could come early to shovel snow off sidewalks, straighten chairs and pick up trash, put the coffee on, and get the thermostat set to the right temperature before families arrive are all simple, yet important roles to play? In addition to that, you could greet at the door, pass out bulletins, and help visitors find the right classroom for their child. To serve in this way, please print and fill out a volunteer application and turn it in at the information table on Sunday morning.

Communion Server

As a body, we participate in The Lord's Supper (communion) together once a month on a Sunday morning. Each month, different volunteers serve the body by preparing the bread and juice for individual use. Serving communion to the body is a special way to love the people of Great Plains Church as they remember what Jesus has done for them at the cross on their behalf. If you would like to prepare and serve communion, please contact Pastor Jim Neice or let us know here.

Hospital Visits and On-going Care

Hospital
visits are a simple, yet very impact-full way to serve the body. When
someone is injured, sick, having surgery, or even dying, a visit to show
concern and offer prayer can mean the world. Each week the pastors
visit Wesley MC and St. Francis/St.Joe Hospitals to pray and offer
comfort. You may tag along or you can go when a pastor is not
available. To learn more about hospital visitation care, please speak
with either pastor or visit the information table.

In addition, the following weeks after a hospital visit can sometimes be difficult as well. Great Plains Church helps meet these needs by providing dinner meals and transportation as necessary. This may not seem like much, but to someone unable to walk or drive, it can provide the exact thing they need for the moment. Meals and transportation are set up at the time of need and we utilize a website called Take Them a Meal.

Meals (during time of need)

One of the special ways the people at Great Plains Church love one another is helping them while in difficulty or transition. Cooking a meal does not take a large on-going time commitment, but makes a huge difference. After surgery, when someone is unable to walk, after the birth of a baby, during a crisis, or the funeral family meal are all times when a meal can be overwhelming to think about for the people involved. Coming alongside to provide a meal communicates a concern and meets a need. If you would like to help, please understand that all meals are set up within a short amount of time after hearing about a need. Many needs are shared on Sunday morning and utilize the website Take Them a Meal, but in advance you can also put your name and email on a list of people to be contacted when a need arises by signing up here.

Youth Ministry

Regardless of what it looks like sometimes, Middle and High School students are open to adults caring for them. Youth ministry is simply that, ministry to young people. Beginning this fall, our youth ministry meets on Wednesday nights, and there is an informal movie night on Sunday evenings. Youth workers come alongside parents to lovingly care for and help disciple students to be all-in for Jesus alone. Learn more about the Youth Ministry and then complete a volunteer application to get started.

Worship Team

Being on the worship team is a great way to serve the body utilizing talents you already enjoy. More than just a band, the worship team is a vital part of ministry on Sunday morning (and at various events) by helping create an environment where the Holy Spirit is present. While being able to sing or play an instrument is part of the service to the body, those things can be learned over time. The biggest requirement is a heart for God in worship. As all instruments are by Him and for Him, our worship leaders welcome a wide variety of instruments and skill levels. There is also opportunities to be trained to play guitar or have vocal training by our worship leaders.Likewise, an important role outside of musical abilities is the sound board and on-screen lyrics. These are ways to serve alongside the worship team without specific musical skill sets. If you would like to audition, please speak with Brandon Judson to arrange a convenient time.

Disaster Relief and Care

Caring for others after a disaster is difficult, yet rewarding work. Currently, Great Plains Church partners with Samaritan's Purse, and soon, the Salvation Army, to provide disaster relief. Being in Kansas and Tornado Alley, we know that a disaster can come at a moments notice. Our desire is to come alongside those who have lost a home, pet, loved ones and their normal way of life by providing loving emotional and spiritual care in whatever way necessary. This care can range from sitting and talking with someone, helping find a lost item, or moving debris to the curb in order for insurance can assess the foundation of the home and the city to carry away the debris. If you would like to serve on a disaster relief team at the next nearby or large scale disaster, please sign up online to get notified when the disaster hits and plans are being made to help. Please understand that entering a disaster area is difficult emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We often stay for a few days at a time (possibly requiring time off from work).

Prison Ministry

Bill
Glass Ministries travels the nation sharing the gospel with the
incarcerated in special weekends called Weekend of Champions. This is
the third Weekend of Champions that has came to the Wichita and
surrounding area, the last being in 2008. You have the opportunity to
go Behind the Walls of prison to tell about Jesus and His grace and
forgiveness. The weekend includes several celebrity type guests who
perform for large groups of inmates and bring light to the Good News of
Jesus. Volunteers, such as you, then continue by speaking to a handful
of inmates about how they can become born again and live a new life in
Jesus Christ. This event begins with a fundraising banquet on Feb. 27,
2015 and the Weekend of Champions is May 28-30, 2015. Find out more and
sign up at weekendofchampionswichita.com

Feed and Care for the Homeless

Serving
the Homeless in Wichita is a rewarding experience. When someone is
without a home, warmth, or food, it can be a lonely, desperate place.
When you provide a meal or engage in a conversation with someone you do
more than help physically, you communicate they are valuable. From that
platform of caring, the gospel of Jesus Christ can be shared
sincerely. Great Plains Church partners with the Union Rescue Mission
several times during the year as well as hitting the streets to bring
water and good news to anyone we can find. To learn more about caring
for the homeless population in Wichita, speak with pastor Jim Neice.